The Washington critic., 1887-09-15
WASHINGTON, SEPT 10, 1851
our GREAT CENrnNNItLs.


ago this week. II remained to be rau-
fed by the several States and to be
tested by operative experiment. The
ratification was accomplished In due
time; the test has been made, and
although sundgy amendments have
been neccssilaled by succecdlng events,
the great instrument that was signed
by the members Of the convention on
the 17th OF September, iis1 has vindi.
Gated their wisdom and established the
principles OF civil liberty on sure and
abiding foundation
A hundred years Of progress such as
marks the growth aud development of
the American Union may be considered
a fair and satisfactory test of the adap.
tatiun Of Republican institutions to the
wants and welfare Of civilized and
intelligent people.
During that period the Republic las
stood more than one serious strain
upon its stability, and out Of each or.
deal IL has emerged with new strength.
1t has safely undergone an internal con.
ilict-mightier and more momentous
than all the civil wars of modern times
combned-only to be buildcd into a
more glorious fabric, iirner In the af.
fections of the people and exacling the
respect of all enlightened nations.
The propriety OF celebrating the hun.
dredth anniversary of the adoption OF
Constitution fraught with such be.
nifcent results TO mankind is not a
matter Of question, but OF grateful OBJ
legation, and the elaborate ceremonies
in honor of the occasion that are inau.
gurated at Philadelphia to day bespeak
not only the almost phenomenal enter
plise of the citizens of that great city.
but an exalted devotion to the duties of
patriotism and good citizenship.
The Philadelphia Centennial will also
have the effect of directing public at.
tention more closely to the other great
anniversary, next In order and of more
transcendent interest, the Centennial OF
Constitutional Government In America,
which Is TO be commemorated at the
National Capital in 1889.
The 4th Of March of that year marks
the beginning Of the new and more per.
feet Union. The 30th of April follow.
Ing, when the first President was in.
augurated aud the machinery Of popu.
lar government In all its parts was first
set in motion, denotes the truO birthday
Ct the Republic.
Then will be gathered arounda con
on shrine not alone the representa-.
dives Of the great family Of States that
has grown out of the adoption of the
Federal Constitution, hut Of all the Re.
publics Of Europe aud America, that
here found their inspiration and In due
time achieved admission TO the brother
hood OF free States.
There is no period In our history so
abounding in patriotic associations, so
rich in examples of faulIless devotion
10 the cause of civil aud religious
liberty or so deserving of perpetual re-
memt rance, as that which records our
transition from crude and uusatisfac.
tory confederation to the protecting
shelter Of the Ark Of the Constitution,
grave apprehension as to the future, to
that assured and permanent organlza.
tion, which has since borne such re-.
tplendenb fruitions.
These are indeed the jubilee years of
tie Republic.
- THE platform adopted by the New
York Republican Convention yester-
day Is built In the usual architectural
style Of such political structures. 1t
abuses the Administration, indorses a
protective tariff, assumes special devo-
tion to the principles Of Civil.Service
reform, calls for q free ballot, says a
good word for the veterans and de-.
nounces the late battle flag order, Upon
the subject of immigration, 1t is nota.
bly, outspoken and demands the vigor-
ous exclusion from our shores OF An.
archis,s, Communists, Polygamlsts,
paupers, fugitives from justice, insane,
vicious and criminal persons and con-
tract laborers. AS to the temperance
question, 1t is vague and weak, simply
indorsing the purpose of the Republi-
can majority of the Legislature in pass.
ing the bills to limit and restrict
the liquor traffic, and condemn.
ing the yetoes Of the Governor
as "hostile TO that purpose" So
unsatisfactory to the friends Of hon
est legislation was this plank of the
platform that Dr. Crosby undertook ia
get In u resolution squarely committing
the party to high license, but he wa
voted out OF sight on the instant aud
the platform was adopted ms It stood.
THE Philadelphia NorH Ama3caa
this morning INDUCES In an edition be-
fitting the patriotic occason-its nota,
bic feature being fac simile Of the
first printed copy Of the Constitution
OF the United States, an exact repro.
ductlon In dimensions, typography and
contents Of the four pages comprising
the issue OF that journal September 10,
1857, the paper then being known as
the Pennsylvania RACKET and Doily
Adertiser, 1t is meritorious piece OF
enterprise, possessing great historic in,
terest, and cannot fail to be immensely
appreciated
THE Chicago Anarchijis wantonly
courted the fate which hes oyertakel
them. There is not one of the con.
demncd men who did not know at the
time that In resisting The civil authori.
ties he was committing o violation Of
law, Oh that in comprising the death Of